January 1, 2014

Detroit Free Press Sports Writer

George Perles, the former Michigan State player, Duffy Daugherty assistant and architect of the “Stunt 4-3” defense as a Pittsburgh Steelers aide, was the man who ended the Spartans’ 22-year Rose Bowl drought.

He did it with a 1987 team that looked anything like a Rose Bowl contender as September ended. The Spartans started with a 27-13 win over USC on Labor Day night at Spartan Stadium, but followed that with a 31-8 loss at Notre Dame and 31-3 home embarrassment against Florida State.

The day before the third game, on Sept. 25, 1987, Daugherty died at age 72. It was a tough time for everyone involved in MSU football. But the Spartans would not lose again.

A second-half comeback at Iowa got things rolling, followed by a 17-11 win over Michigan featuring seven MSU interceptions. Illinois spoiled the Spartans’ homecoming with a 14-14 tie, but MSU was in position to win the Big Ten for the first time since 1978 after a 13-7 triumph at Ohio State.

Fans poured onto the field and assaulted the goalposts after a 27-3 rout of Indiana at Spartan Stadium to clinch the Big Ten. And then MSU found itself in a similar position to 22 years earlier — having to beat a Pac-10 team for the second time in a season.

It didn’t work out in 1966, with UCLA pulling a Rose Bowl upset. It was a different story against USC this time, thanks to Lorenzo White and the “Gang Green” defense led by Percy Snow and coordinated by Nick Saban.

White ran for 113 yards and both of MSU’s touchdowns, and John Langeloh kicked the winning 36-yard field goal with 4:14 left for a 20-17 final score. The field goal was set up by the play of the game, a 36-yard pass from Bobby McAllister to Andre Rison with McAllister jumping out of bounds.

Todd Krumm then recovered a USC fumble on the next possession, and John Miller sealed the game by intercepting Rodney Peete. The Spartans celebrated on a field they will see today for the first time in 26 years.